Check out the match preview and prediction for the 2025 National Rugby League round 18 clash between the Raiders and Dragons.
MATCHDAY NEWS
MATCHDAY SCHEDULE
Canberra Raiders Vs St George Illawarra Dragons
Venue: GIO Stadium
Date: Saturday July 5, 5.30pm (AEST)
MATCHDAY TEAM NEWS
Raiders: 1. Kaeo Weekes 2. Jed Stuart 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Sebastian Kris 5. Xavier Savage 6. Ethan Strange 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Corey Horsburgh 9. Tom Starling 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Simi Sasagi 12. Zac Hosking 13. Morgan Smithies 14. Owen Pattie 15. Noah Martin 16. Trey Mooney 17. Ata Mariota 18. Chevy Stewart 19. Pasami Saulo 20. Joseph Roddy 21. Danny Levi 22. Ethan Sanders
Dragons: 1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Sione Finau 3. Moses Suli 4. Corey Allan 5. Tyrell Sloan 6. Lyhkan King-Togia 7. Kyle Flanagan 8. Emre Guler 9. Damien Cook 10. David Klemmer 11. Raymond Faitala-Mariner 12. Jaydn Su’A 13. Jack de Belin 14. Jacob Liddle 15. Loko Jnr Pasifiki Tonga 16. Hame Sele 17. Michael Molo 18. Blake Lawrie 19. Viliami Fifita 20. Nicholas Tsougranis 21. Lachlan Ilias 22. Jacob Halangahu
Referee: Gerard Sutton
Bunker: Ashley Klein
MATCHDAY PREVIEW
With Josh Papali’i answering Billy Slater’s call to play Origin, Corey Horsburgh will shift from lock to prop, with Morgan Smithie promoted from the bench to start in his place. Trey Mooney is the new addition on the bench.
The Dragons have been forced into multiple changes due to Origin commitments and injuries. Corey Allan shifts into the centres in place of Valentine Holmes, with Sione Finau named on the wing. Tyrell Sloan will start on the other wing, with Nathan Lawson injured. Luciana Leilua, Hamish Stewart and Toby Couchman are also out with injuries, with Raymond Faitala-Mariner, Loko Pasifiki Tonga, Hame Sele and Michael Molo all coming into the 17. Viliami Fifita drops back into the reserves after playing off the bench last week.
The Raiders were able to hold on for a gritty win against the Knights last week, which made it six in a row. With the Bulldogs going down to the Panthers, they were able to jump up into top spot on the ladder, and with two byes still to come, they are in prime position to claim their first minor premiership since 1990.
On paper, this looks like an easy win for the Raiders, but the Dragons found some of their best form of the season in a first half blitz against the Eels last week. They held a 26-4 advantage at half time before the Eels roared back into the contest in the second half as injuries began to take a toll on St George Illawarra, a late try to Holmes sealing the victory.
The Dragons have lost some important members of their forward pack, and will need the likes of De Belin, Klemmer and Su’A to really step up this week against a dangerous forward pack from Canberra, even without Papali’i. Recent history is also on the side of the Raiders, having won the past four games between the two sides, while the Dragons have not won in Canberra since 2015.
The competition remains incredibly tight, and the Dragons are still well and truly in finals contention, sitting on equal points with the Dolphins in 8th position, but having had all their byes, a loss here would make it that much more difficult to return to September footy for the first time since 2018.
On what should be another cold night in Canberra, the Raiders should prove too strong and strengthen their hold of top spot.
MATCHDAY PREDICTION
Raiders by 14.
Check out our round 18 predictions here.
What’s your prediction? Drop it in the comments below.
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